Postgame React: A Fun Saturday Night, Finally
by Peter Bean on Sep 22, 2007 10:49 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Football
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PrintReport cards tomorrow and Monday, but let's get the immediate reaction underway.
The outcome was: Exactly what we needed. 42-24 would have led to more hand wringing. 58-14, with Rice's second touchdown coming against our seventeenth string? What we hoped for. This was a great outcome.
The Offensive MVP was: Everyone? The offense performed well. I've got nice things to say about Colt McCoy, Limas Sweed, Nate Jones, Jamaal Charles, John Chiles, Vondrell McGee, Chris Ogbonnaya, Quan Cosby... the list is honestly too long. This group played well.
The Defensive MVP was: Let's give it to Lamarr Houston, who was simply phenomenal. If you prefer, we could give it to the young linebackers, who were infinitely better than their upperclassmen starters. The defense was good tonight.
The offensive Offensive Player Of The Week was: No comment. I was too pleased with everyone to single out someone as a goat. The whole offense deserves kudos for coming out and taking care of business tonight.
The offensive Defensive Player Of The Week was: Once again, the veteran linebackers. It was comical how much better our defense was - even against Rice - when the young unit was in. Sorry, Robert, Scott, and Rashaad - your understudies are better.
John Chiles Watch: Hello! 9 carries, 72 yards. Two beautiful touchdown drives. Silky smooth moves. General pimpitity. Basically, the kid looks great out there. Let's hope the coaches watch the tape and think to themselves, "My oh my, what a delightful toy we have to play with here..."
Vondrell McGee Watch: 8 carries, 80 yards, including a touchdown. He's for real, people. He goes from zero to in your face in no time at all. He's physical, runs downhill, hits holes, makes holes - all that good stuff. He, JC, and OG make one hell of a strong trio at the tailback position.
Oklahoma Fear Factor: 6 out of 10.... (5) is the baseline. (+1) for Tulsa's bag of offensive fun wasn't nearly enough. (+1) for I'm still not sure who covers Malcolm Kelly. (-1) for there's now hope that the young LBs are winning the day. (+1) for Kindle got hurt. (-1) for Colt McCoy finally outplayed Sam Bradford. (+1) for Oklahoma's offensive line is impressing me. (-1) for Chiles/McGee maybe earning chances to play.
Heading into next week I feel: Damn hopeful, finally. Not because we beat Rice, but because the best talent on the roster saw the field. I suppose we shouldn't get too carried away - the coaches could shelve things next week - but it's hard to imagine watching the tape of this game and coming away with any other feeling besides, "The young guys people are clamoring for can help this team be great, instead of good." I'm very encouraged.
Celebrate tonight, Longhorn fans. Not only did we see stuff tonight that should make us feel really good about the 2007 team, but we saw a lot that should make us feel good about 2008 and '09. Again - it's not that we beat Rice. It's that we beat Rice with players who make you whistle at the TV. Colt, Limas, and Jamaal all looked good. The D-Line was outstanding again. The young guys - from Houston to Muckelroy to Chiles to McGee - they all kicked ass.
--PB--
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mccoy
I'm a little concerned about his accuracy so far this season.
We'll get to that in the report cards
He's throwing the ball with more zip this year, and less accuracy. But I think it's something he is and will continue to adjust.
In short: I think you're right that he's not quite as accurate as he was last year, but there's a reason for it. My feeling watching tonight is that he's getting there. I liked what I saw. Even though he missed some passes.
re: Lamarr Houston
What is this? A player from outside of Texas playing (and playing well) for the 'Horns?
by Old Tex29 on Sep 22, 2007 11:24 PM CDT reply actions
Lamarr Houston
Someone with that name is a Texan in my book no matter what!
It was a poor attempt at a joke
at the fact that this staff seemingly refuses to recruit outside of Texas. Houston is living, breathing proof that they can play some ball in other parts of the country, too.
If USC can go into Louisiana and take LSU's top target (McKnight) and Florida can take the top player from the state of New Jersey (Will Hill), I don't see why Texas can't pluck the occasional out-of-state star. These aren't exactly isolated incidents, either. Both USC and Florida have been taking about 25% of their recruits from OOS the past few years. I'd say that strategy has been working out pretty well for them. Hell, McKnight might've even ended up a Horn if Texas had pursued him harder.
by Old Tex29 on Sep 23, 2007 12:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Replay of the game?
I was too drunk to really watch the game tonight, does anyone know where can I watch the game online?
espn360 doesn't have it.
Thanks!
Cyrus Re: game replay
www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com should have the game posted for viewing within the next couple days
by mvplonghorns on Sep 23, 2007 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions
FINISH
That is exactly what the 'Horns did tonight. 41 1st half points, 31 in the 2nd quarter. They had the game wrapped up at halftime, something that they hadn't done until today. Big plays for scores, running for power when it counts (3rd downs and red/scoring zone situations), and very solid defense (Woohoo lots of Muck and Norton... anyone know about Kindle's injury?). Excellent confidence builder just in time for Big XII play. Can't wait to get some revenge next Saturday...
so i was marginally coherent
for the first half. but then the second half i spent drunk and hitting on this girl at stout (side note: success!) , but I was very impressed with not only the performance of the team in the first half but also the play-calling on offense (i.e. more plays downfield, etc.).
also, beasley isn't exactly the answer yet at CB, but he made some good plays (and some bad ones) that portend good things in the future. i don't think he's THAT much better than foster right now, but he's got so much more potential that he should probably be playing.
i take back every bad thing i've ever said about marcus griffin. he's played great the last two games and if he can keep it up, more power to him. I love it.
i was on the fence about the younger linebackers before this game (unlike many of you). Color me impressed. if kindle's healthy, he should be starting alongside muckelroy and norton. it's no longer up for debate. also lamarr houston and aaron lewis were great.
this team has an incredible future. the only question for mack is whether that future is now.
Claiming your own light
I've wanted to say this about Marcus: I think he is rightfully gaining his own identity, his own spotlight.
I've seen this situation before and it's panned out both ways. Siblings where one shines and the other is just not quite as good for whatever reason and just can't get the spotlight themselves. Quan's brother didn't quite get the kudos Quan did, although they were virtually mirror images physically and gifted football players and track stars.
But sometimes it happens that the younger or lesser one manages to mature and flourish when no longer in the shadow of the other and attain their very own respect. Marcus is playing extremely well, hitting harder and playing smarter. I'm proud of him for accomplishing that; the Horns needed it that kind of on the field leadership, where the play and not the words do the real leading.
That's valuable for the team, for this team in particular, so tonight I'll tip one your way for a big step in helping this team earn its way.
Cheers.
OU fear factor
0 out of 10 for me.
I don't necessarily expect a win. But I'm not scared of that team anymore. I have supreme confidence in our offense and defensive line. The fact that we've been involved in close games helps us if the game against OU is close. OU hasn't had to be clutch all year. Their inexperience could get them. It's going to be a legit shootout, and congrats to whoever survives that game.
by goingforthecorner on Sep 23, 2007 1:04 AM CDT reply actions
Two notables items
MB said Ulatowski would probably be back next week.
In an interview, Marcus Griffin said Vince would be there for the Kansas State. The Titans have an off week after the Monday Night game.
I love this graphic!
Found it on the ESPN game recap.
by goingforthecorner on Sep 23, 2007 4:22 AM CDT reply actions
Just a side note...
... this may have already been brought up somewhere else, but it occurred to me after the game that I hadn't seen Brandon Foster all night. The player participation sheet supported that, he didn't play one snap last night. Yesssssssssssss
Foster > Beasley
After re-watching the game I think Foster and Palmer are both better than Beasley. Foster gets too much unwarranted criticism on this site IMO.
yup
While Beasley might have more potential, at this point it looks like Foster is rightfully in the starting spot.
by the other Andrew on Sep 23, 2007 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
only negative - injuries
eddie jones left with shoulder injury.
sergio left with knee injury that looked to be pretty serious (after seeing Lokey walk off the field with a broken leg last year, walking has no prognostic utility)
brandon foster tweaked a quad during pregame.
by cortexas on Sep 23, 2007 9:52 AM CDT reply actions
injury update -
What we’re hearing on the injury front
Saturday, September 22, 2007, 11:39 PM
Splicing together what team officials are saying about the various injured Longhorns:— Cornerback Brandon Foster probably could have played. He tweaked his quad during practice and again during pregame warmups. He was kept out just in case.
— Linebacker Sergio Kindle’s knee injury isn’t thought to be serious, but he might miss a game.
— Defensive end Eddie Jones’ shoulder injury isn’t thought to be serious.
— The team hopes to get defensive end Brian Orakpo back soon, perhaps for next week’s game against Kansas State.
by cortexas on Sep 23, 2007 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I don't worry
too much about Kindle. Lokey walked off heavily supported and tenderly as hell, Kindle's trainer had a hand on his shoulder and he walked by himself into the tunnel.
Note: This does not in any way diminish the fact that Lokey is the most incomparable badass in Division I.
hope that's right about Kindle...
sure hope it's not serious. Even missing one game is not too good. He's got a lot to catch up on already.
I'll jump on that "young linebackers" bandwagon. They so very clearly brought more to the table than their elders. I just hope that it was every bit as clear to people who actually, you know, get paid to make personnel decisions.
And although Beasley (and the Browns, for that matter) weren't outstanding, I still think they should be in there. As of right now, I'm utterly convinced that the older guys cannot be successful against OU's receivers. I'm not at all sure that the young guys can be, but I'll take that doubt over the ominous certainty I get watching the older guys. I think it'll take big plays to beat some of the teams we'll be facing, and big plays just don't seem to be part of the repertoire lately. I would rather live with the inevitable mistakes (and there would surely be a lot), and hope for the big plays I hope/believe the youngsters are capable of. On that note - I think I really hate Robert Joseph, I was really high on him after his play last year, and now, not only is he gone, but God only knows how many others he's involved...
by agent orange on Sep 24, 2007 2:26 PM CDT reply actions
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